The Miracle of Fasting (Part 1 and 2) 10-10-08

by: Neil McLaughlin

Despite the luxuries of the modern world and the perceived abundance of food, the human body is much the same as it was 10,000 generations ago. During that time, known as the Paleolithic Period, humans did not have welfare, food stamps or discount grocers. As a result, men and women did not eat nearly as regularly as we do now, and on average about one day per week they would go without any food at all. Obesity was unheard of as anyone who managed to become overweight was quickly devoured by wild predators due to their sluggishness. During this period (which covers Pliocene and the Pleistocene epochs) our bodies developed powerful detoxification methods that were triggered by the rhythm of food consumption of the era. Nearly 99% of humans existence was during this period. The last two centuries of the Industrial Revolution are a mere instant compared to our entire history on Earth, and this was not nearly enough time to evolve or even adjust to our modern diets of processed food.

Just what is Fasting?

Deliberately ceasing to ingest food is called fasting and has been used throughout history by both people and animals to restore and maintain optimal health. Animals that become ill instinctively know to heal themselves properly by resting near a source of clean water and refraining from eating. For this reason your veterinarian will often ask whether your pet has been eating when trying to diagnose an illness. You may also have noticed that when you are very ill you lose your appetite. This was your body forcing you to fast against your will, but it should never come to that point.

When living creatures stop eating, they reserve energy normally used for digestion and they experience the miracle of fasting. Many dismiss fasting and say “but I can’t go without food... I need my nutrition”. Ironically those who use this as an excuse are usually munching away on a fast food burger that not only provides zero nutrition, but actually taxes the body of energy for digestion and strips away nutrients while leaving toxic residues. While humans can only go a few minutes without oxygen and a few days without water, we can go up to 70 days without food! In fact, a 30 or 40 day fast is considered by many to be the key to physical and spiritual enlightenment.

While our bodies are extremely efficient and store most substances “for a rainy day”, there are many unnatural and unfortunate toxins in our environment that should not be stored. The only way to release many of them is through fasting. The enzymes in our blood are normally preoccupied with digestion, however after we go for 24 hours without food digestion ceases and detoxification begins. Those same enzymes (never wanting to take a break) move from the gut into the bloodstream where they immediately begin purifying the body, neutralizing toxins, dissolving cysts, destroying cancer cells and releasing stored toxins from cells where they are eliminated from the body

During a fast, the level of toxins in the bloodstream can increase by as much as 1000%, meaning uncomfortable symptoms such as headaches may occur. In general, during a fast, the worse you feel the more it is working, because whether via a slow time-release or a quick purge these unnatural substances will take their toll. Subsequent fasts feature less uncomfortable symptoms as the body has less accumulated toxins.

For someone who has never fasted, chances are there are substances in their body that have been there for their entire lives and which do not belong there. Thus, the first fast is the toughest.

In a nutshell, fasting means you cease ingestion while continuing (or increasing) excretion, resulting in a net reduction in toxins. There are a handful of essential products that will assist the detoxification process and reduce some of the uncomfortable symptoms. If you tend to have excess mucous and allergies, you will likely find your sinuses totally clear by day 2 of the fast (however the symptoms are typically worse during the first day as the toxins are being released in higher than normal quantities).

Types of Fasts

1) Total fast – A total fast means not consuming any food or water. While it may be that when we become severely dehydrated our cells are able to squeeze out toxins that would otherwise remain in the water (and thus in the cells), and while plants often bounce back stronger after they are dehydrated, pure fasting is generally not recommended as water is essential to eliminate toxins.

2) Water fast – A water fast means consuming only water. While safer than total fasting, there are some beneficial substances that are alright to consume during a fast so this fast is also not recommended, especially for beginners.

3) Juice fast - A juice fast means consuming only liquids like freshly squeezed juice, with no solid foods. You must also refrain from consuming any caffeine, nicotine, alcohol or prescription drugs. This is the most common type of fast and the one we will explore in this article.

Next we’ll explore the five key substances that you should have in stock to support periodic fasting.

Top Five Fasting Products

1) Distilled Water - (H20)

Distilled water is pure, condensed steam, as nature intended. While spring water companies pretend that non-distilled water contains essential minerals, the reality is that humans do not absorb required minerals from water. Only chelated minerals (produced by vegetables) can be absorbed. It would also be real beneficial to use the prill beads in your distilled water.

2) Bentonite Clay - Aluminium Phyllosilicate (Montmorillonite)

Bentonite clay (available in two forms called sodium bentonite and calcium bentonite) is a form of volcanic ash that is a natural adsorbent and which has the remarkable ability to physically remove 25 times its weight in impurities from the body, including mercury, viruses and pesticide residues. Bentonite contains high levels of Iron, Magnesium and Silicon. Bentonite has laxative action and is also used in cement, ceramics, acne medication, cat litter, and to clarify white wine.

3) Psyllium (seed husks) – Plantago spp. (Plantaginaceae)

Psyllium seeds husks, available in powdered or capsule form, contain fiber along with the amazing ability to absorb massive amounts of water. One teaspoon of psyllium, when added to a ½ cup of water will create a mixture that becomes so thick within the first minute that it is the consistency of pudding. Psyllium acts as a laxative and provides soothing moisture to areas that are commonly chapped due to digestive acids. For this reason it is used to treat stomach ulcers and hemorrhoids.

NOTE: Do not use psyllium husks if you are allergic to any grains, have anaphylactic reactions, ever had you throat feel swelling, have a strong gag reflex, or diverticulitis; you will have serious problems. Use freshly ground flaxseed, oat bran, vegetable fiber, ground walnut or coconut husk etc..

4) Milk Thistle (seed) - Silybum marianum (Compositae)

Milk thistle is a flower whose seeds offer the antioxidant Silymarin, one of the most powerful liver tonics available. It is so potent that it serves as the antidote to poison Death Cap mushrooms, one of the most deadly natural substances known and one that would otherwise cause death within 24 hours. Milk thistle is used to treat cirrhosis of the liver and even promotes healing in those who continue to drink alcohol. It also promotes lactation and is a natural antidepressant.

5) Cascara Sagrada (bark) - Rhamnus purshiana (Rhamnacea)

Cascara Sagrada (or “sacred bark”) is one of the only safe herbal laxatives besides psyllium. Used for over 1000 years, Cascara Sagrada bark promotes peristaltic action within 12 hours (the rule of thumb being "take in the PM for an AM BM [Bowel Movement]). Normally when we ingest meals the current meal helps move out the previous meals. However, during a fast it is essential to assist the elimination process in order to effectively remove the large amount of impurities that are trying to make a simultaneous exit.

Instructions for your first (36 hour) Fast

* On a weeknight of your choice, consume a vegetarian meal as your final meal. Popcorn is a good final snack to have before the fast. Consuming meat or dairy as the final meal will complicate the fasting process due to the high content of protein and possibly dangerous substances like sodium nitrate. Note, your first fast should occur on a non-work day as you will likely not feel so well.

* For the entire next day, from sunset to bedtime, consume only freshly squeezed (non bottled) juice, along with the substances listed above (see labels for correct amounts to consume). Drink a big glass of (1 Tbsp) Psyllium with (1 Tbsp) Bentonite Clay and water, and an hour later take any other herbs that are part of your fast. Taking them together is less effective since one removes the other. You will feel hungry and may eat out of habit so be careful. Getting to sleep that night can be tricky.

* On the morning after your first full day without food, enjoy a healthy vegetarian “break” fast. Again, you may be surprised to find that by the 36 hour point you are no longer hungry and you will have increased energy. For this reason you may decide to go longer periods as you gain experience with fasting.

For more information about fasting along with some herbs that help alleviate the symptoms of detoxification, please see The Miracle of Fasting (Parts 2, 3 and 4). Note: although fasting is generally extremely safe, if you have medical problems or are taking medication you should consult your doctor first.

Part Two:

During a fast you are likely to experience mild to perhaps severe discomfort. Causes include caffeine withdrawal, nicotine withdrawal, alcohol withdrawal, and the sheer volume of toxins exiting the body at once. If these substances make you feel ill in large quantities, they will still have subtle undesirable effects in small quantities. For that reason the following natural products are recommended. These will assist the fasting process and reduce the symptoms such as headaches and nausea that often result as so many poisons are trying to exit the body at the same time.

Top Five Products to Assist Detoxification

1) Burdock Root - Arctium lappa (Compositae)

One of the most powerful blood purifiers, Burdock root helps remove heavy metals and other toxins from the body. Burdock contains up to 45% Inulin along with Arctiopicrin, Arctiin, Tannins and Volatile oil. Powerful enough to draw mercury through the blood brain barrier, burdock root is one of the most important herbs to consume on a regular basis. Burdock is used to treat acne and other skin conditions as it purifies the liver. For this reason it is one of the key substances used in the natural treatment of cancer. Burdock has antibacterial, antifungal and anti-tumor effects.

2) Dandelion – Taraxacum officinale (Compositae)

Dandelion is a bitter herb with diuretic and detoxifying properties. Dandelion contains Sequiterpene lacotones, Coumarins, Taraxacoside and minerals such as Potassium and Calcium. Dandelion can help alleviate the symptoms of fasting such as headaches, which are caused from both caffeine withdrawal and the high level of toxins in the blood found during fasting. As with many powerful herbs such as laxatives, dandelion should not be taken long term or it may weaken certain organs. Dandelion is used to treat blood pressure, coughing, constipation, hangovers and gallbladder problems.

3) Licorice Root – Glycyrrhiza glabra (Leguminosae)

Licorice root is another herb commonly used during fasting to help reduce discomfort. Licorice contains Glycyrrhizic acid which is 50 times sweeter than sugar, yet licorice is not thought of as sweet. A powerful anti-inflammatory, licorice is used to treat arthritis and is also used as an expectorant, demulcent and adrenal agent.

4) Blue Green Algae - Anabaena sphaerica (Cyanophata)

Blue Green Algae is a type of bacteria that offers powerful cleansing properties. Blue green algae, also known as Cyanobacteria, contains chlorophyll, a deep green antioxidant that is an important addition to your fasting products. “Bad” bacteria such as fecal coliforms simply cannot coexist in the presence of chlorophyll. It is this algae that naturally keeps fresh water ponds clean and clear. It also provides enormous amounts of nutrition. Algae reduces nitrogen and carbon while increasing oxygen.

5) Grapefruit (Juice) - Citrus paradisi (Rutaceae)

Freshly squeezed grapefruit juice is one of the only foods (besides Melons) that does not require stomach acid for digestion. The stomach acid normally kills most of the enzymes, but with grapefruit juice the enzymes are delivered deep into the intestines. A hybrid of pomelo (Citrus maxima) and sweet orange (Citrus sinensis), Grapefruit is perhaps the healthiest food to consume for breakfast (or for breaking your fast). Grapefruit juice is highly alkalizing (only when fresh, not bottled) and is a natural cleaning agent that has antiseptic, antibacterial and antifungal properties.

Give Your Organs a Break

The organs in the human body are designed to survive for 150-200 years, but they are usually vastly overworked during our lives, mainly due to over consumption. It has been estimated that if humans went just one day per week without eating, they would live twice as long! This is because our bodies achieve balance by removing the toxins before they accumulate to high levels, and also because fasting gives our organs a well deserved rest. Fasting in the spring time is said to be the most effective, while fasting in the winter (when we tend to store more foods for hibernation) is the least effective. For optimal health we should fast at least one day per season.

After your fast you will likely experience an amazing feeling of calm, and whatever symptoms you experienced during the fast (such as headaches) will occur less often than they did before the fast.